Washing machine



08:. 25, 1932. w. E. SHARP 1,884,893

WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1928 1H0 dtbormg 'Oct. 25, 1932. 8 w. E. SHARP 1,884,893

WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 amnion I VJ'Z Zz'am E Sharp- FIG. 3

7m 1- f-M- I M (lacuna Patented Oct. 25, 1932 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E.'SHARP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS WASHING MACHINE Application filed November 24, 1928. Serial No. 321,707.

This invention relates to washing machines and more particularly to a type of Washer which may be-made small for nursery or upstairs use.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide a washing machine involving a container adapted to hold water and articles to be washed, a plunger mounted for up and down movement therein with agitating means preferably connected to the. top thereof and means surrounding said plunger for intermittently automaticaily raising it and allowing it to fall, said agitating means being preferably set at an angle and swivelled to the top of the plunger so that it slowly rotates as the plunger is reciprocated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a washing machine of the pounder type involving a vertically reciprocating plunger, a pair of pounders or vacuum cups swivelled to the top thereof and a solenoid surrounding said plunger and normally covered or partly covered by the wash water, for preventing overheating of the solenoid while maintaining or tending to maintain the term perature of the wash water, for intermittently raising it and allowing it to fall by gravity, said plunger being connected to switch means for breaking the circuit to the solenoid when the plunger is raised the desired amount and closing said circuit when the plunger has dropped by gravity to a prede termined extent.

A further object of my inventnion is to provide a small washer, for nursery or upstairs use, very simply constructed as a container enclosing a reciprocating plunger with pounders or vacuum cups to the top thereof, and a solenoid surrounding said plunger to lift it and thereby operate a switch to break the circuit through the solenoid allowing the plunger and'attached parts to drop or be drawn down by mechanical means and agi tate the water in the container.

Other objects and advantages of the invention'relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds. Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims.

igure l is a vertical sectional view of one embodiment of my washing machine. Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the washing machine shown in Fi ure 1 with a modified operating't-oggle switc 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the to gle switch at right angles to that shown in -B igure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 1, there is shown a washing machine 1 comprising a water container 2, a base 3, and a cover 4, said parts being preferably constructed of sheet metal. Attached to the bottom or floor of the container 2 is a housing 5 which is desirably formed as a casting, and connected to the floor or bottom of the container 2 by a plurality of screws 6 holding the sheet metal floor or bottom 7 of the container between a ring or annular member 8, and the flanged portion 9 on the housing.

Said housing 5 is provided with a reduced section 10 adjacent the upper end in which loosely fits a rod or plunger 11 on the top of which is preferably swivelled a pair of pounders or vacuum cups 12 connected by a preferably curvedcross arm 13. Said cross arm 13 may have a central hub 14 throu h which passes a reduced extension 15 on t e plunger 11, whereby said cross arm and vacuum cups are permitted to rotate as the plunger reciprocates up anddown. A thumb nut 16 may be threaded to the top of the extension 15 to hold the hub 14 in place, while at the same time not binding it to prevent rotation. In order to induce rotation, the vacuum cups 12 are preferably set at a slight angle as illustrated, so that the reciprocate ing motion of the plunger induces a slow rotation of the cups and connecting arm.

Enclosed in the housing 5 is a solenoid 17 which is desirably constructed of enameled wire of a size and number of turns in accordance with the electrical energy available and the power desired to be applied to the plunger. Said solenoid is effectively insulated from the housing in any desired manner as by means of mica cylinders 18 and 19 closed at the ends by fiber rings 20, through the lower one of which pass the lead-in wires 21 and. 22 for delivering electrical energy to the solenoid. The lower opening'in the housing 5, after application of the solenoid 17, is prefer-' ably closed by means of a bushing 23 threaded thereinto, which bushing also desirably holds a sleeve 24 which forms the inner lining or protective means for the solenoid 17, the upper end of said sleeve preferably fitting around a cylindrical downward extension of the upper portion 10 of the housing.

The plunger 11 may be desirably made of aluminum or other non-rusting and non-magnetic material and is provided with a magnetic extension 25 in order to adapt it for operation by the solenoid as a core therein. Said extension may be a solid rod of soft iron but is desirably formed of Swedish iron wire enclosed in a metal sleeve or cylinder 26. Said cylinder 26 is closed at its upper end by a metal plug 27 which is desirably formed with an extension 28 fitting in a corresponding aperture in the lower end of the rod or plunger 11 and connected to said rod and said sleeve in any desired manner as by means of pinsor rivets, as illustrated. A lower plug 29 desirably closes the lower end of the hollow cylinder or sleeve 24 in the same way and said plug is desirably formed with. apair of lugs 30 receiving therebetween a link 31 and connected therewith as by means of a pin or rivet 32. The link 31 functions to operate the toggle switch 32, and passes through the ring 8 and a corresponding opening in the bottom of the container 2.

The operating switch 32 is preferably pivotally connected to a bracket33 fastened to the inner surface of the base 3 of the washing machine. For that purpose, a pair of cllps or lugs 34 may serve for mounting the outer end of the lever 35 received therebe- 'members by means of a coil spring 40. Said stop and contact members are desirably mounted on a bracket 41 connected to the bracket 33, but insulated therefrom as by means of a fiber washer 42. One of the leadin wires 21 is connected to the bracket 41 so that when the switch is closed, the current plunger or ram '11 with its connected ma netic core 25 and hollow semi-spherical vacuum cups and connecting arms falls by gravity, a point will be reached when the lever 35 is moved to a position lower than the switch 37 so that the spring 43 pulls the switch upward instead of downward, and

causes contact to be made between the contact tips 39 and 43 causing electrical energy from a connected source to flow to the solenoi from the lead-in wires 21, 22 and 44. This causes the downward movement of the plunger to be arrested, and said plunger and con-' nected parts to be raised by the magnetic attraction between the solenoid 17 and the core 25. This raising occurs until the pin 46 con necting the switch 37 to the lever 35 passes above the center line of the spring 40, as illustrated in Figure 1, when said spring pulls the switch downward against the stop 38 causing the upward movement of the plunger and vacuum cups to be arrested and permitting them to again drop by gravity.

The spring 40 causes the points 43 and 39 to be quickly drawn apart, thereby eliminating most of the arcing. On account of the angularity of the cups 12, as illustrated, with respect to the plunger 11, said cups tend to revolve gradually about the plunger 11 as said plunger reciprocates, thereby efiiciently agitating all the wash water and clothingor the like in the container 2.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, a modified form 'of toggle switch 32 is shown pivotally mounted on a bracket 33 connected to the base 3 of the washing machine 1 as in the previous embodiment. Said switch comprises a lever 35 pivoted between lugs 34, extending from the bracket 33*, as by means of a pin 36. The other end of the lever 35 is pivoted to the lower end of a connecting link 31, the upper end of which is preferably formed as a ball 47 mounted in a socket 48 in the lower end of the core portion 17 or magnetic extension on the plunger 11 of the machine. In the present embodiment it will be seen that instead of forming the core or magnetic extension as a tube filled with soft iron wire, I may form it as a solid rod 17; The socket 48 is desirably closed by means of a bushing 49 threaded into the member 17 as illustrated, thereby providing for universal movement between the connecting rod 31 and the plunger 11 or magnetic extension thereof.

The switch proper 37 in the present embodiment, is formed generally T shape with the stem or upright 50 of the T Connected to a pair of coil springs 40, whichsprings extend between outer extensions 51 on the switch and corresponding extensions on the pivot pin 36*. The ends of said'spring may fit in corresponding notches in the pin 36* and thereby retain it in place. The upper arm of the switch carries a contact tip 43*, and the bracket 33 carries a cooperating contact tip-39 on a plate 51 which is insulated from the bracket 33 switch 50 is adapted to engage a fiber or other insulating stop 38. The lead in wire 44 is connected to the bracket 33*, and the leadin wire 21 is connected to the plate 51 as by means of a screw 52 insulated from the bracket 33. r

The operation of the toggle switch is as.

- in the machine, and caus'ng said solenoid to washing.

be energized and raise the plunger 11 until the lever 35 reaches the position illustrated by full lines causing the springs to act to draw the switch 37 downward to the posi tion illustrated, breaking the contact, deenergizing the solenoid and permitting the ram and vacuum cups to again fall, whereby the operation is repeated.

From the foregoing description of my invention, it will be seen that I have devised a washing machine which is adapted to be economically manufactured in small sizes,thereby making it useful for upstairs or -nursery It will also be apparent that my machine involves few and simple parts adapted for ready manufacture, while at the same time, a machine is provided which is efficient in its operation and automatic in its action. Although I have shown the plunger as operated downwardly by gravity, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to'th s manner of operation, as if desired, I may employ springs to supplement the action of gravity. It will also be understood that it is within the scope of my invention to reverse the operation of the plunger and vacuum cups, that is, the solenoid may 1 operate to depress or pull down the plunger until the switch breaks the electrical contact and allows springs to raise said plunger. By having the solenoidand its housing 5surrounded by the wash water 45, overheating thereof is prevented, even after long operation, while at the same time the temperature of the wash water is maintained byheat dissipated from the solenoid.

The lower arm of the 1 tainer.

tainer, a plunger mounted for up and down movement therein, agitating means connected to the upper end of said plunger, an opcrating solenoid surrounding said plunger, a lever pivoted to said container, a link connecting the free end of said lever to said plunger, and a switch pivoted to said lever, whereby when said plunger falls by gravity, the switch is closed causing the solenoid to be energized to raise said plunger,-and when said plunger is raised, said switch is opened resulting in deencrgization of said solenoid and release of said plunger to again fall by gravity.

2. A .washing machine comprising a container, a housing mounted on the lower wall of said container, a solenoid enclosed in said housing, a plunger with a magnetizable portion mounted for reciprocation in said housing, with .said magnetizable portion surrounded by said solenoid, a cross arm mounted adjacent the top of said plunger, a pair of vacuum cups mounted on the ends of said cross arm for agitating water in the container, a link connected to the lower end of said plunger with its lower end connected in turn to a switch for controlling the flow of current to said solenoid, whereby said plunger and vacuum cups are alternately raised and lowered for agitating the water in the conwith a lower magnetizable portion received in said housing and solenoid, a cross arm mounted for rotation adjacent the top of said plunger, vacuum cups mounted on the ends of said cross arm for contacting and agitating the water in said container, and a switch connected to said plunger, whereby it is closed when said plunger is at one end of its up and down travel and open at the other end of said travel for controlling the flow of current to said solenoid, said vacuum cups being angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the plunger, whereby. they and the connecting cross arm revolve about the plunger upon reciprocation thereof.

4. A washing machine comprising a container adapted to hold wash water and articles to be washed, a housing mounted on the floor of said container, a solenoid enclosed in said housing, a plunger with a lower magnetizable portion received in said housing and and enclosed solenoid being normally covered by the wash water, whereby overheating of the solenoidis prevented and the wash water is kept w by heat conducted from the solenoid t fgilgh the housing.

5. A was ing machine comprising a container, a housing mounted on the lower wall of said container, a solenoid enclosed in said housing, a plunger with a magnetizable portion mounted for reciprocation in said hous-- ing, said magnetizable portion being surrounded by said solenoid, a link connected to the lower end of said plunger, a lever pivotally mounted with respect to the casing, means movably connecting the lower 0 end of saidlinkand the free end of said lever,

an oscillating member pivotally mounted on said lever intermediate the ends thereof and formed with oppositely disposed arms for alternately making and breaking an electrical circuit through the solenoid, a third arm angularly disposed with respect to the other arms, and spring means connected thereto whereby when the lever is adjacent one end of its travel the spring moves the oscillating element to close the circuit and when the lever is adjacent the other end of its travel the springmoves the element to break the circuit.

6. A washing machine comprising a container, a housing mounted on the floor of said container, a solenoid enclosed-in said housing, a plunger with a lower magnetizable portion enclosed in said housing and solenoid, a lever pivotally mounted with respect to said container, means connecting the free end of said "lever with the plunger, an oscillating member pivotally mounted on said lever and adapted to move so as to alternately make and break the circuit through the solenoid, and spring means controlling said oscillating member so that when the plunger is adjacent one end of its travel the oscillating member is drawn in one direction to make'an electrical contact, and when the plunger is adjacent the other end of its travel the oscillating memher is drawn in the other direction to break said contact and open the circuit through the solenoid.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM E. SHARP. 

